Gable-top-container handle

ABSTRACT

Handles and paperboard blanks for forming handles for gable-top containers.

United States Patent Ernest L. Smith Kansas City, Mo.

July 30, 1969 Mar. 16, 1971 Phillips Petroleum Company Inventor App].No. Filed Patented Assignee GABLE-TOP-CONTAINER HANDLE 10 Claims, 6Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 229/17, 229/52, 294/372 Int. Cl. 865d 2/28 Field of Search229/17, 52

(A), 51(is); 206/65 (D); 294/872 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,221,876 12/1965 Currie 229/52(A) 3,383,029 5/1963 Reade 229/52(A)3,442,547 5/1969 Skillen 294/872 Primary ExaminerDavid M. BockenekAttorney-Young and Quigg ABSTRACT: Handles and paperboard blanks forforming handles for gable-top containers.

PATENTEDHARIBIBYI 3570,7114

SHEETI 0F 3 INVENTOR. E.L.SMITH A T TORNEVS PATENTEU-mm 6197i saw 3 or 3A T TORNEYS GAi'BLE-TOP-(IONTAWER HANDLE I This invention relates tohandles and paperboard blanks for forming handles for gable-topcontainers. In another aspect, this invention relates to improvedgable-top containers. The invention is particularly applicable togable-top containers of rectangular cross section formed from apaperboard blank coated on one or both sides with a thermoplasticmaterial. These containers are commonly used in the dairy industry orpackaging milk, orange juice, lemonade, and the like. The gable-topclosure structure consists generally of opposed front and rear roofpanels inclined to make the gable formation, and a pair oftriangular-shaped end closure panels inclined upwardly between the frontand rear roof panels. These end closure panels have integral foldbackpanels that assume a position lying against the underside of the rearroof panels. The foldback panels and the front and rear roof panels areformed with integral ridge panels which become disposed in verticalcontacting relation and are joined together by some form of adhesive,usually by a bonding of the thermoplastic coating, to form the ridge ofthe gable-top.

In the past, numerous configurations have been proposed for thepaperboard gable-top containers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,348,755 is an exampleof an excellent snap-action container. I have discovered, however, thatcontainers such as described in the above patent can be significantlyimproved by providing a handle for said container. This invention isequally applicable to end-open, snap-action containers of otherconfigurations in order to provide containers that can be used withgreater ease and efficiency.

In heretofore used containers, difficulties have been encountered inholding the container while discharging material therefrom. This problembecomes exceedingly more difficult when the person handling the cartonis of tender years or has small hands, the container is of large size,the container is heavy, and/or the outer surfaces of the container havedroplets of liquid adhering thereto.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedgable-top container. Another object of this invention is to provide ahandle for a gable-top container for greater ease and efficiency inusing said container. Other objects, aspects, and-advantages of theinvention will be apparent from a study of the specification, thedrawing, and the appended claims to the invention.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views of the paperboard blank from which thehandles are formed;

FlG. 4 is a perspective view of the gable-top structure in a partiallyvopen condition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the gable-top structure in an advancedopencondition; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective 'view of the gable-top structure in the fullyopen condition.

FIG. 1 shows a-gable-top container 2 having the handle 4 of thisinvention installed thereon. The container comprises a tubular body 6having four sidewalls 8, a bottom closure It) fixed to said body, andfirst and second roof panels 12, M inclined toward each other andoverlying the top of said body. A first end closure panel 16 opposes asecond end closure panel (not shown) with said end closure panels beinginfolded between said roof panels 12, 14 from the opposite gable ends.First 18 and second (not shown) pairs of triangular end closure panels(better seen in FIG. 5) are each joined to the opposite sides of arespective triangular end closure panel 16 along fold lines which are inproximity with said roof panels l2, 14. The foldback panels i8 arefolded against the underside of said first and second roof panels 12,14. First and second ridge panels 26, 22 surmount their respective roofpanels l2, 14. Other ridge panels (not show) surmount each of saidfoldback panels 13. Each pair of ridge panels surmounting a pair offoldback panels are hinged together at the apex of the continuous end.closure panel 16 and are folded about that hinge joinder inface-to-face relation, between the first and second ridge panels 20, 22of the first and second roof panels 12. 14.

The handle 4 has an elongated top panel 24 overlying a portion of eachroof panel l2, l4 and their respective ridge panels 20, 22. First andsecond ridge panels 26, 28 are each attached to their respective roofridge panel 20, 22. This attachment can be accomplished with glue,stapling one panel to the other, heat sealing, or by other means knownin the art. First and second elongated handle side panels 30, 32 areeach attached on one of their sides to their respective separate handleridge panels 26 or 28, extend upwardly and outwardly therefrom and areeach attached on opposed side to the top panel 24. Adjacent weakenedlines of severance 34 are formed on the top panel 24 beginning at oneend of the top panel and extending a distance along the length of saidtop panel toward the opposed end of said top panel. It is preferred thata score line 36 extends across the width of the handle spaced from theends of said top panel and in contact with the ends of the weakenedlines of severance of the top panel in order to more easily bendportions of the handle during opening operations. In order to facilitatestacking and grasping the containers, it is preferred that the top panel24 have a length substantially equal to the length of the ridge panels20 or 22, a breadth in the range of A to 2%inches, and that said toppanel be substantially parallel to the bottom closure. Top panels havinglarger or smaller breadths are found to be difficult to grasp. In orderto provide sufficient grasping surface and maintain the rigidity of thehandle, it is preferred that the weakened lines of severance 34 have alength not greater than three-fourths the length of the top panel 24.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a rectangularly shaped paperboard blankfor forming a handle of this invention for a gabletop container. A pairof spaced-apart, substantially parallel, first sore lies 38 extend,longitudinally along the blank 40 from the first to the second ends 42,44 of the blank in spaced relation from the sides of said blank. Thefirst score lines 38 and the outer edges of said blank 40 define thefirst and second handle ridge panels 26, 28. A pair of substantiallyparallel weakened lines of severance 34 extend longitudinally along theblank 40 from the first end 42 toward the second end 44a distancepreferably not greater than three-fourths the length of said blank, asdescribed above. Each of these weakened lines of severance 34 are spacedfrom the handle ridge panels 26, 28 and the score lies 38 defining saidridge panels. In order to facilitate handling, as described above, it ispreferred that the distance between the weakened lines of severance bein the range of A to 2 /iinches. A pair of substantially parallel secondscore lines 46 extend longitudinally along the blank all from adjacentthe end of a separate weakened line of severance to the second end ofthe blank. Each of the second score lines 46 are preferably spaced fromthe handle ridge panels and the first pair of score lines 38 a distanceequal to the spacing therefrom of the weakened lines of severance 34.The weakened lines of severance 34, score lines 46, and edges 42, 44 ofthe blank 40 define a top panel 24 separating adjacent first and secondside panels 30, 32. In order to facilitate bending the handle forwardduring opening operations, it is preferred that scoreline 36 extendacross the width of the blank 40 in spaced relationship from the firstand second ends &2, 44 of the blank 40 and in contact with the ends ofthe pair of weakened lines of severance 34. The ease in opening thecontainer can also be improved by removing from the blank 40 a sectionof each. handle ridge panel 26., 28 and handle side panel 30, 32adjacent the end of the weakened lines of severance 34 thereby dividingeach handle ridge panel 26, 28 into two ridge panels and handle sidepanels 30, 32 into two side panels.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a blank 40 for forming the handle 4of this invention. in this embodiment, a single handle is constructedhaving a plurality of portions, each similar to that shown in FIG. 2.Each portion is attached to a succeeding portion or preferably formed ofa continuous blank 40 with a severance line 38 formed across the breadthof the blank, thereby separating the plurality of portions. Thecomposite blank of FIG. 3 is thereafter attached to a plurality ofgable-top containers to form a composite.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show the gable-top container with the handle of thisinvention at various stages of opening. In opening of the carton, thetop panel 24 is lifted upwardly and folded along score line 36 therebyparting the top panel along the weakened lines of severance 34. Thefirst and second pairs of triangular end closure panels 18 arethereafter folded outwardly and backwardly toward the opposed triangularend closure panels, tape 50 is removed, and the triangular end closurepanels 18 are severed along pour slit 52 and moved outwardly to form apour spout. These FIGS. show a tape 50 sealing a pour slit 52, but itshould be understood that the handle 4 of this invention can be usedwith containers of other configurations. Other modifications andalterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled inthe art from the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawing, and itshould be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limitedthereto.

lclaim:

l. A gable-top container of sheet material comprising a tubular bodyhaving four sidewalls, a bottom closure fixed to said body, a pair ofopposed roof panels inclined toward each other and overlying the top ofsaid body, a pair of opposed triangular end closure panels infoldedbetween said roof panels from the opposite gable ends formed by thelatter, first and second pairs of triangular foldback panels, each pairof triangular foldback panels being joined to the opposite sides of arespective one of said triangular end closure panel along fold lineswhich are in proximity with said roof panels, said foldback panels beingfolded against the underside of said roof panels, a ridge panelsurmounting each of said roof panels, a ridge panel surmounting each ofsaid foldback panels, each pair of ridge panels surmounting a pair offoldback panels being hinged together at the apex of the continuous endclosure panel and being folded about such hinge joinder in faceto-facerelation, between the ridge panels of said roof panels, wherein theimprovement comprises a handle having an elongated top panel overlying aportion of each roof panel and respective roof ridge panels, first andsecond handle ridge panels each attached to a separate one of. said roofridge panels, first and second elongated handle side panels each fixedlyattached on one side to a separate handle ridge panel, extendingupwardly and outwardly from said handle ridgepanel, and attached on anopposed side of the top panel, and adjacent weakened lines of severanceformed on the top panel from one end of the top panel a distance alongthe length of said top panel at about the connection points of thehandle side panels and the top panel toward the opposed end of said toppanel.

2. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top panel issubstantially rectangular, has a length substantially equal to thelength of the roof ridge panels, and a width in the range of V; toZinches.

3. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the weakened lines ofseverance have a length not greater than three-fourths the length of thetop panel.

4. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a score line extendsacross the width of the handle spaced from the ends of said top paneland in contact with the ends of the weakened lines of severance of saidtop panel.

5. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top panel issubstantially parallel to the bottom closure.

6. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each handle ridge panelcomprise at least two separate ridges.

7. A rectangularly shaped paperboard blank for forming a handle for agabletop container of rectangular formation, comprising:

a pair of spaced-apart, substantially parallel, first score linesextending longitudinally along the blank from one end of the blank tothe other inspaced relation to the sides of said blank, said score linesand edges of the blank definin the handle rid e panels; subs ntiallyparalle weakened lines of severance extending longitudinally along theblank from a first end of the blank toward the second end of the blank adistance not greater than three-fourths the length of said blank, eachof said weakened lines of severance spaced from the handle ridge panelsand the score lines defining said handle ridge panels, said weakenedlines of severance being spaced apart a distance in the range of A toZAinches; and

substantially parallel score lines, each extending longitudinally alongthe blank from adjacent the end of a separate weakened line of severanceto the second end of the blank, each of said weakened lines of severanceextending from the score lines being spaced from the handle ridge panelsand the score lines defining said handle ridge panels a distance equalto the spacing therefrom of the weakened lines of severance, saidweakened lines of severance and extending score lines and edges of theblank defining a top panel separating adjacent first and second sidepanels.

8. A blank, as set forth in claim 7, including a score line extendingacross the width of the blank spaced from the ends of said .blank and incontact with the ends of the weakened lines of severance.

9. A blank, as set forth in claim 7, wherein a section of each ridgepanel and handles side panel adjacent the end of the weakened lines ofseverance is removed from the blank.

10. A container, as set forth in claim 7, wherein each handle side panelis substantially of equal width.

1. A gable-top container of sheet material comprising a tubular bodyhaving four sidewalls, a bottom closure fixed to said body, a pair ofopposed roof panels inclined toward each other and overlying the top ofsaid body, a pair of opposed triangular end closure panels infoldedbetween said roof panels from the opposite gable ends formed by thelatter, first and second pairs of triangular foldback panels, each pairof triangular foldback panels being joined to the opposite sides of arespective one of said triangular end closure panel along fold lineswhich are in proximity with said roof panels, said foldback panels beingfolded against the underside of said roof panels, a ridge panelsurmounting each of said roof panels, a ridge panel surmounting each ofsaid foldback panels, each pair of ridge panels surmounting a pair offoldback panels being hinged together at the apex of the continuous endclosure panel and being folded about such hinge joinder in face-to-facerelation, between the ridge panels of said roof panels, wherein theimprovement comprises a handle having an elongated top panel overlying aportion of each roof panel and respective roof ridge panels, first andsecond handle ridge panels each attached to a separate one of said roofridge panels, first and second elongated handle side panels each fixedlyattached on one side to a separate handle ridge panel, extendingupwardly and outwardly from said handle ridge panel, and attached on anopposed side of the top panel, and adjacent weakened lines of severanceformed on the top panel from one end of the top panel a distance alongthe length of said top panel at about the connection points of thehandle side panels and the top panel toward the opposed end of said toppanel.
 2. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherEin the top panel issubstantially rectangular, has a length substantially equal to thelength of the roof ridge panels, and a width in the range of to 2inches.3. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the weakened lines ofseverance have a length not greater than three-fourths the length of thetop panel.
 4. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a score lineextends across the width of the handle spaced from the ends of said toppanel and in contact with the ends of the weakened lines of severance ofsaid top panel.
 5. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the toppanel is substantially parallel to the bottom closure.
 6. A container,as set forth in claim 1, wherein each handle ridge panel comprise atleast two separate ridges.
 7. A rectangularly shaped paperboard blankfor forming a handle for a gable-top container of rectangular formation,comprising: a pair of spaced-apart, substantially parallel, first scorelines extending longitudinally along the blank from one end of the blankto the other in spaced relation to the sides of said blank, said scorelines and edges of the blank defining the handle ridge panels;substantially parallel weakened lines of severance extendinglongitudinally along the blank from a first end of the blank toward thesecond end of the blank a distance not greater than three-fourths thelength of said blank, each of said weakened lines of severance spacedfrom the handle ridge panels and the score lines defining said handleridge panels, said weakened lines of severance being spaced apart adistance in the range of to 2inches; and substantially parallel scorelines, each extending longitudinally along the blank from adjacent theend of a separate weakened line of severance to the second end of theblank, each of said weakened lines of severance extending from the scorelines being spaced from the handle ridge panels and the score linesdefining said handle ridge panels a distance equal to the spacingtherefrom of the weakened lines of severance, said weakened lines ofseverance and extending score lines and edges of the blank defining atop panel separating adjacent first and second side panels.
 8. A blank,as set forth in claim 7, including a score line extending across thewidth of the blank spaced from the ends of said blank and in contactwith the ends of the weakened lines of severance.
 9. A blank, as setforth in claim 7, wherein a section of each ridge panel and handles sidepanel adjacent the end of the weakened lines of severance is removedfrom the blank.
 10. A container, as set forth in claim 7, wherein eachhandle side panel is substantially of equal width.